First Philippine Auto Show, and Five Luxe Models Get the Axe
The Philippine Star
The government is set to destroy five sports cars that were among 25 luxury vehicles smuggled into the country, Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde said Saturday.
The five vehicles include a Lamborghini, a BMW, a Ferrari and two Porsches, all with an estimated value of P100 million [$US 2 million].
Remonde said the five sports cars would not be auctioned off as earlier planned since President Arroyo wanted to set an example by destroying the vehicles – live on national television.
They were among the 25 smuggled luxury vehicles seized by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group headed by Antonio Villar Jr. at the Subic Bay Freeport.
Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo is against auctioning the seized vehicles because they could end up in the hands of the smugglers themselves.
“To show that we are very serious about this campaign, destroy these luxury cars on nationwide television,” Remonde said, quoting the President.
He said the President wanted the vehicles destroyed during her visit to Subic within the week.
The discovery of the 25 smuggled vehicles further ignited what has become an apparent turf war between the PASG and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Villar claimed some Customs employees were trying to facilitate the release of the vehicles from Subic.
The PASG was created recently by the President to curb smuggling activities across the country.
Villar lamented that the BOC has somewhat ignored the PASG’s authority to go after smugglers.
